Why Is It That Sex Toys Are So Expensive?

I remember the first time that I walked into a sex shop with the intention of buying something for myself. It was Positive Passions, actually, and I had a strict budget of $120 max. Not knowing as much then as I do now, I asked the same question I

now get asked frequently at the shop: “What can I get for less than $100?” This, of course, drastically reduced my options. I left with a cock ring and a bullet vibrator and though I enjoyed them well enough at the time, I no longer use either of them and one has long since been trashed. I had my eye on the Lelo Nea 2, but at nearly double my budget once you added on lube and taxes, I felt like I couldn’t justify the expense. When I reflect back on the experience, the truth that strikes me is that I didn’t think my sexuality was valuable enough to invest in. But now, from recognizing all the ways that I have developed in my confidence, personality, and sense of personal power by developing a healthy sexual relationship with myself, this statement seems somewhat absurd. Yet even now, knowing why the investment is worth it on a personal, emotional, and physical level, I still had to ask: “Why are sex toys so expensive?” There seems to be a perception that sex toys should be cheap. Form-fit some silicone and package it up for $5.99 like that spatula on sale at Canadian Tire. This just isn’t the case, though, and here’s why.

Materials

Not all sex toy materials are created equal. Chances are, for a sex toy less than $100 you are buying something made with ABS, TPR/TPE, or PVC plastic. These materials vary in their safety depending upon their composition. At Positive Passions we do stock toys made of these materials, and we always double check to be sure they are made with phthalate-free, body safe compositions. That said, not all retailers or product designers have the same commitment to these standards, and so buying cheaper toys will never be free of some degree of risk. Even when produced to be body safe, these materials have a few downsides: they are porous, cannot be made to waterproof electrical components, and are vulnerable to deterioration. Their porosity means that, overtime, bacterial and environmental contaminants can enter into and remain inside the material. This means that eventually the toy may take on substances that cause it to become an irritant to areas with sensitive skin (i.e. your vulva and anus). Toys made of these materials also have a comparably reduced life span, and it is recommended that you dispose of them as soon as they take on any discolouration, cloudiness, or change in texture or smell. That’s not to say that you can’t enjoy your ABS, TPR/TPE, or PVC toy in the meantime - just don’t expect to have it for very long. If you’re comparing 3-5 years with a $80 TPE toy to the decades you will have with your silicone luxury product for $250, maybe you’re not getting the deal you thought you were. Currently, silicone is considered among the best in terms of safety standards for sex-toy materials. Silicone has a wide range of desirable qualities, including some that are very relevant to safe sex toy production, including:

• Low toxicity.

• Hypoallergenic.

• Water repellant and can form watertight seals.

• Resistant to microbiological growth.

• Low chemical reactivity. 

• Resistant to oxygen, ozone, and ultraviolet (UV) light.

• Suitable for a wide range of electrical applications, including electrical insulation.

  
  

Silicone, however, is more expensive to produce than ABS, TPR/TPE, or PVC. In addition, not all silicone is created equal either. Silicone varies widely in both composition and application, and silicone created for medical or food-grade use (which is what you want in your sex toy) must be high in purity. Without getting into detail of what that means exactly, just know that pure silicone is also more expensive to produce. This is one of the ways in which cost varies across silicone toys, as well.

Design

My bullet vibrator has two settings: on and off. This is what you can expect of most “cheap” sex toys, especially if you expect to pay less than $40. Between that and $100 you may get some additional functions, such as speed control or a variety of vibrational patterns. There are other features you may like to have in a sex toy, and you will pay extra for each of them: USB rechargeable batteries, remote controls or app connectivity, ergonomic or optimized design, more varied vibrational patterns/sensations (a thuddy knock versus a fluttery buzz), the ability to use it in/around water, and the ability to control both pattern and intensity for even greater control over your pleasure. Truth is, some modern sex toys are more similar to your cell phone than they are to your kitchen spatula. They have durable batteries, multiple internal mechanical/electrical parts, and unique chip-sets designed to manage and control various features. To put it simply, the design of these toys is no easy, or cheap, feat.

Market Research & Safety Trials

Additionally, and this is the coolest part in my opinion, the companies selling luxury products are conducting significant market research and safety testing to make the most enjoyable, durable, and safe sex toys they can. The reason I find this so exciting is because research-fuelled information on pleasure is deeply lacking. If it takes a sex-toy company to ask “what feels good for you?” and consequently teach us about the nature of pleasure and orgasm, then so be it! I’ll pay extra for that, since I see it as an investment into the pleasure of future generations as well as my own.To be honest, the design of sex toys is not easy to accomplish. People vary drastically in the shape and size of their anatomy and in their preferences for pressure and vibrational frequencies, just to name a few things. This means that a lot of effort goes into designing a sex toy that is even remotely “universal” (though I’d argue that this is, in fact, impossible to accomplish - there are too many variables to design a sex toy that works for every body). This introduces safety issues that need to be considered as well: Will that clitoral stimulator be safe for short as well as long clitorises? Is that dual stimulator flexible enough to accommodate a variety of bodies comfortably? What kind of stresses can the toy handle before components break or leak? These are important questions, the answers of which influence the design of products. Reputable companies in the sex toy industry invest in testing the safety of their products to ensure that we will not be harmed by using them.

Final Words

There are many reasons that we stock and that you might want to buy a sex toy for less than $100. Probably the most important is that not everybody is capable of affording the higher price point on luxury products, and we believe that sexual pleasure should be accessible for anyone who wants it. People may also have similar cognitive or emotional reasons as I did for feeling that they cannot justify paying more for a sex toy. It’s also difficult to cough up a lot of money for a sex toy before you know what kind of stimulation you like. We have many different options for multifunction vibrators, dual stimulators, g-spot vibrators, and toys with various surface textures for you to try to get a good sense of what kind of stimulation works best for your body. These affordable options are excellent for testing the waters, and can mentally prepare you for the investment of your next lifetime toy, even helping you to make the decision of which one you want to buy (maybe it’s not what you think it is). Many of our non-vibrating toys are less than $100, even ones made of luxury materials such as glass and silicone. We have dildos, butt plugs, and a collection of glass massagers all available at very affordable prices.Another reason you might want a cheaper sex toy is perhaps not as obvious: it’s not recommended that you swap sex toys between partners. If you are non-monogamous, or if you are in a new relationship and want to treat your new partner or test the waters on sex toys with them before making a major investment, then something like a cock-ring or a bullet vibrator could be a great place to start. Perhaps you want to buy your newest partner their own dildo for your strap on. Perhaps you want to buy them their first toy and don’t know what they would enjoy best. The reasons are endless for why you might want to buy a sex toy. The reasons are endless why you might choose a cheaper one. Yet I hope that this article helps you to understand why some toys are more expensive than you might expect them to be, and help you to justify making that investment for yourself if you wish to. As always, we are here to help you make the best decisions for you.

With love,

The Positive Passions Team

By Affiliate Consultant Victoria